AAGPS HISTORY

The Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales (A.A.G.P.S) was the outcome of a meeting held at Gunsler’s Café, new Circular Quay, on 30 March 1892.

The Schools represented at the initial meeting were The King’s School, St Ignatius’ College,
St Joseph’s College, All Saints College, Bathurst and the North Shore Grammar School (SCEGS).

On 12 April delegates from Sydney Grammar School. Newington College and Cooerwull Academy joined those who attended the first meeting.

At a third meeting held on 28 April 1892 membership of the AAGPS was clarified and St Patrick’s College Goulburn, St Stanislaus College Bathurst and The Scots College joined those Schools who attended the earlier meetings.

Sydney High School applied for membership in March 1894 but they were not admitted until 14 February, 1906.

The Armidale School entered the Association on 7 May 1897.

Rugby

Official competition commenced in 1892

Trophy 1st Grade: this trophy is engraved School Challenge Trophy Presented by the President and Vice Presidents of The New South Wales Rugby Football Union.

It was first award in 1986 replacing a Shield won three years in a row TKS.

Trophy 2nd Grade this trophy is engraved W.S.Corr Shield. The Shield also has AAGPS 2nd Grade Football engraved on it.

It was first presented in 1913.

First convenor: WS Corr TKS (1896).

Athletics

The official Athletics competition commenced in 1892. In 1912 the competition was divided into two levels – Senior and Junior. In 2012 the Competition was divided into three levels - Senior, Intermediate and Junior.

Senior Championship Shield for Athletics - first awarded in 1895. In 1908 a new Senior Shield replaced the previous trophy which was full, having been first presented in 1873 when a race for All Schools was first held at each School carnival. The new Shield was backdated to 1895.

JM McCann Trophy - Intermediate Trophy. Jim McCann attended St Joseph's College, leaving in 1957. His record in the Open Long Jump (7.42m in 1957) stands as the oldest record in the program.

Junior Athletic Championship AAGPS - first awarded in 1912 and presented to Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of NSW on 11th May, 1895. Engraved on the back is The Ladies Challenge Plate.

First convenor: GP Barbour SGS (1895)

Cricket

Official competition commenced in 1893. As early as 1897 the competition was in First and Second Grade.

Trophy 1stXI: first awarded in 1893. The Shield just has A.A.G.P.S. Challenge Shield for Cricket engraved on it.

Trophy 2nd XI first awarded in 1915. The Shield just had A.A.G.P.S Cricket Second Grade engraved on it.

Note: Until 1910 the Major Rennie Trophy, donated in 1894, was awarded for the First Four race there being no First Eight race until 1910. Similarly from 1906 to 1911 inclusive, the Yaralla Cup was awarded for the Second Four race. In 1912 the Yaralla Cup became the First Four trophy.

Rifle Shooting

Official competition commenced in 1905 but results of the National Rifle Association competition are recorded from 1893. The AAGPS decided in 1903 to formally admit Shooting as one of its sports.

Trophy 1st team

The 1st team premiership is decided on the results of three individual matches.

1. The National Rifle Association Shield purchased by the AAGPS in 1905.

The NRA competition had been held annually for many years prior to 1905.

2. The Rawson Cup presented in 1905 by Sir Harry Rawson Governor of New South Wales and Patron of the AAGPS. In 1910 it became a perpetual trophy.

3. The Buchanan Shield from 1905 to 1912 was known as the GPS Challenge Shield but in 1913 was renamed to honour CA Buchanan.

Trophy 2nd team first awarded in 1917.

This Shield has GPSAAA Rifle Shooting Second Grade Premiership Shield written on it.

Tennis

Trophy 2nd team NSW LTA Shield Second Grade AAGPS is engraved on it. First award in 1972.

The AAGPS and CAS First Teams compete annually for the John Brown Trophy

First convenor: P Riley SGS (1972)

Basketball

Official competition commenced in 1975.

Trophy 1st Team Denys Hake Shield first awarded 1975 was presented by The King’s School Council

Trophy 2nd Team: TE Bawden Shield first awarded 1975 was presented by The King’s School Council

The AAGPS and CAS First Teams complete annually for the PJ Yeend Trophy presented by Basketball NSW. The AAGPS and ISA First Teams compete annually for the McKay Cup.

First convenor: TE Bawden TKS (1975)

Swimming

Unofficial competition commenced in 1987 among all nine schools but competitions between the schools via a GPS Relay at each School’s Swimming Carnival started in 1922.

Between 1903 and 1921 All Schools races were held over various distances at each School’s Swimming Carnival.

First convenor: B J Roydhouse SJC (2000)

No Trophy yet awarded.

Cross Country

Official competition commenced in 1988

Trophy: NA Emery Shield first awarded 1988. The Shield has For Premier School in Cross Country Running engraved on it.

First convenor: TP Devin SCEGS (1988)

Football

Official competition commenced in 1988. The name was changed from "Soccer" to "Football" in 2006.

Trophy 1st Grade: The Wanderers’ Cup for AAGPS Soccer. Presented by The King’s School to mark the first game of Soccer in Australia between The King’s School and The Gentlemen Wanderers played in Parramatta on 14 August 1880.